AFLI Policy Briefs

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    AFLI Policy brief on the special question of urban refugees in Uganda
    (African Leadership Institute, 2018-07-09) Rwemisisi Tibemanya, Jude; Kugonza Kamanyire, Sylvester
    As the number of displaced persons exceeded the Second World War spike, the international community and host governments continue to grapple for durable solutions. Uganda faces the problem of surging number of refugees from 690,000 in 2015 to 1.5 million in 2018 (UNHCR, 2018), 100,000 of whom have opted for urban centres yet conventional refugee response is based on rural settlement (Hovil 2007). While government of Uganda has committed about 900km2 of land for rural refugee settlement, the swelling number of asylum seekers and refugees in urban1 non-settlement settings demands innovative approaches to ease the burden on financial and natural resources (Dryden-Petersen 2006). The objective of this policy brief is to raise awareness about emerging issues in management of refugees and to influence public policy on management of refugees in the country. The policy brief presents policy suggestions emerging from a study titled ‘The special question of urban refugees in Uganda’ commissioned by Africa Leadership Institute (AFLI) and triggered by parliamentary debate on the matter in reference to the parliamentary hansard in April, March and May 2018 which resulted into recommendations to review the process of management of refugees in the country. The study was conducted in partnership with Inter-Aid Uganda among refugees living in the jurisdiction of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and aimed at identifying and prescribing solutions to emerging issues affecting urban refugees. The study entailed document review, key informant interviews and focus group discussions with beneficiaries and practitioners of existing refugee policy. Findings were validated by a public policy dialogue organised by Uganda Development Policy Management Forum (UDPMF) at Uganda Management Institute (UMI) and AFLI. This policy brief recommends that; 1. Refugee services including direct and indirect cost per refugee be guided by comprehensive evidence- based policy enabled by intensification of electronic management of refugees. 2. Reliable up-to-date data capturing refugee activity including arrival and exit be used to monitor their movement and security and to estimate resources for refugee response. 3. Services for urban refugees should extend to urbanities beyond Kampala Capital City Authority. 4. Livelihood projects be introduced to improve quality of life for low skilled urban refugees and to augment their contribution Gross Domestic Product.
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    AFLI Policy brief on integrating human rights in regulation of media practice in Uganda
    (African Leadership Institute, 2019) Mbaine, Adolf; Kemigisha, Rose
    Despite ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 19) and recognition of freedom of opinion and expression by the Constitution of Uganda (1995), state and media practitioners continue to clash in public space over the right of media to access public information and to determine content and presentation of media output. This policy brief discusses integration of universal media freedoms and rights into the media policy framework, and is based on policy research commissioned by the Uganda Policy Development Management Forum based at Uganda Management Institute (UMI), in partnership with Africa Leadership Institute (AFLI). Data was obtained by document review and presented to a public policy dialogue attended by media practitioners, government technocrats in the ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), academia and the general population. The study established that the international human rights standards were entrenched in the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda of 1995 which provides the overarching framework that specifies state obligations and accountability on rights and freedoms. The study established that these rights are largely misunderstood and hardly implemented in the Ugandan media space. This policy brief recommends that; government of Uganda embraces a holistic approach to media regulation to include; protection of media freedom and human rights, recognition of information as a public good; capacity building for media practitioners; expeditious law reforms to integrate media freedom as a fundamental human right, establishment of laws to sanction individuals who abuse media privilege; inclusion of media interests in the National Action Plan and National Development Plan, commemoration of international and local media days and strengthening of networks for media practitioners. Media should also build internal checks to self- regulate and enforce professionalism.
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    AFLI Policy brief on management of disasters in Uganda
    (African Leadership Institute, 2018-11-29) Onweng Angura, Tobias; Kugonza Kamanyire, Sylvester
    Disaster preparedness and response remain a challenge for the Government of Uganda. Sprawling chunks of the population across the country continue to suffer the debilitating effects of calamities despite numerous interventions to increase the level of awareness and equip emergency response teams. The Government has kitted the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness and Refugees with technical staff and resources to minimise disastrous incidents and respond to them appropriately immediately they happen. Programs have also been set up to support and aid the recovery of populations affected by disasters from time to time. However, catastrophes are manifesting themselves differently in recent times. They are shifting from predictable to unpredictable patterns, and this has presented a fresh challenge to the established prevention and mitigation system. The use of disaster-prone physical features is fast-changing to include social activities like cultivation, sport and entertainment, which attract large numbers of people, depress the environment’s holding capacity and stretch the natural protective mechanisms to the limit. The rising frequency of disasters in the country calls for regular policy reviews to take into account evolving circumstances. More resources should also be set aside to prevent and manage all forms of disasters. Two research studies The Uganda Policy Development and Management Forum supported by Uganda Management Institute (UMI) and African Leadership Institute (AFLI) commissioned two research studies to provide scientific input to support a review of the existing disaster management policy. The studies titled “Disaster Risk Reduction in Uganda, and Disaster Preparedness in Uganda” collected data through document review, questionnaires and interview guides administered on residents of disaster-prone areas. Key informants in the disaster management sector and political leaders were also sampled. The findings were reviewed and validated by renowned scholars and technocrats at a public policy dialogue held at UMI on November 29, 2018.